Association moves to check quacks

WORRIED by the activities of persons who parade themselves as estate agents, the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, ESVARBON is collaborating with law enforcement agencies to check the spread of pseudo practice and prosecute those found guilty of quackery.

Chairman of the Board, Mr. Ayodele Sangosanya who disclosed this at the induction of 107 new estate surveyors and valuers last week in Lagos, said ESVARBON has already instituted actions in the law courts against those found to be operating in unprofessional ways.

Sangosanya explained that the focus of the Board is to substantially reduce the dubious activities of quacks by registering many more estate surveyors and valuers without lowering standards. Presently, Nigeria has a total of 3,119 estate surveyors, a figure Sangosanya said, is grossly inadequate to provide services to the over 160 million Nigerians.

The ESVARBON Chairman said the Board has approved the use of pseudonyms for persons who desire to practise estate surveying and valuation with names other than family names.

“In this regard, the Board has formulated and forwarded guidelines to guide the formation of mega firms with pseudonyms to the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development for gazetting. This stride is to encourage mega practice of the profession to meet international best practices, as it is currently practised in allied professions like Law and Accountancy,’ he said.

Sangosanya lauded the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development for putting in place measures to revitalise the housing and urban development sector through the National Housing and Urban Development policies.

Addressing the inductees, the ESVARBON boss advised them to be good ambassadors of their profession. He informed them that the stamps, seals and certificates given to them, are properties of the Board and these can be withdrawn if abused.

“The rules and regulations of the Board should guide any Estate Surveyor and Valuer and their violation will not be tolerated. Therefore, the ethics and ethos of the profession should be carefully guarded by all and sundry, ”he warned.